Action-packed science at Brookside Elementary School

Science is not boring, at least if you're learning science at Brookside Elementary School. Students laughed and gasped last week during an action-packed and sometimes wild presentation on solids, liquids and gases, compliments of the Lawrence Hall of Science.

The annual assembly is a favorite of students and teachers at Brookside. Educational Presenter Randal Wung taught the basics of science as part of an educational outreach program.

Wung wowed his audience with beakers overflowing with mist and chemical reactions that created gas and inflated balloons. Volunteers took turns assisting Wung, who walked the students through the properties and phases of matter, using dry ice and liquid nitrogen to add no small amount of wonder to the study of science.

It turns out if it's hard to change the shape of something, it's probably a solid. If it's easy to change the shape of something, it's probably a liquid; and if you can't see it, but you can smell it, it's probably a gas.

A giant test tube was employed as Wung and the students conducted an experiment to find out exactly what that powdery substance was and we found out if you add a little vinegar, you can fill that giant test tube almost to the top with something gooey and bubbly and amazing. Wung grabbed a giant test tube stopper (of course) and showed the kids how all those bubbles created enough gas to fill a balloon.

The hour-long event wrapped up with a demonstration on sublimation. That's the term for matter when it skips one of the steps or phase changes it normally goes through.

After dipping a bundle of cilantro and an onion into liquid nitrogen, Wung smashed the veggies with all the gusto required (and maybe even a little bit more) to impress his audience of first- and second-graders.